Keyless lock



Nov; 17, 1931. w P Y 1,832,651

KEYLES S LOCK Filed Dec. 17, 1930 Wmuw Ohius 1 mm.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931- WILLIAM JULIUS PATAKY, OF BROQKLYN, NEW YORK KE'YLESS LOCK Application filed. December 17, 1930.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a keyless lock.

The invention has for an object the provision of a keyless lock which cannot be opened U by feeling when the cutouts are in line with the bolt. Generally, keyless locks are constructed with bolts which may be slightly moved when the lock is in the closed condition and the combination moved very carefully so as to feel when the cutouts come in line with the bolt, and the lock may be opened without the operator knowing the combination. This invention proposes the provision of a plurality of blind cutouts in the combi- 5 nation so as to mislead attempts atfeeling.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a keyless lock which is characterized by a plurality of lock rings with interen gaging parts so that they may be readily stacked. This is of great conven ence in changing the combination of the lock in that the lock rings interengage and can be held in stacked condition without much dilliculty. It is a still further object of this invention to provide a keyless lock which is characterized by a bolt bent into the shape of an inverted U with the arms of the bolt of different diameter so as to engage into the lock one way only and to double the possible combinations of the lock.

A still further object of this invention is to arrange the lock rings with circular r dges at their top ends engageable in corresponding recesses at the bottoms so as to prevent the insertion of a knife or tool between the rings for possible feeling of the cutouts.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a keyless lock of means for preventing turning of the lock ring unless the bolt is completely in its locked place.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the follow- 45 ing description andaccolnpanying drawings,

and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanving drawings forming a material part of this disclosure Serial No. 502,921.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lock constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2' is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the lock rings.

.Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a shank member used in the lock.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified form of the device, and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the lock rings used in Fig. 7

The keyless lock has a shank member 10 with a bottom flange 11. A plurality of lock rings 12 are stacked one above the other and superimposed upon the flange 11 and rotatively mounted upon the shank 10. A

detachable cover 13 is mounted upon the top of the shank and overhangs the top lock ring 12 so as to prevent the removal of the lock rings. A bolt 14 is extended through the cover 13 and in between the shank member 10 and the lock rings 12.

The shank member 10 is circular in horizontal cross section. The lock rings 12 are formed with inwardly projecting top ledges 15. These ledges are turned down along the outer corners so as to provide top ridges 16, and at the bottoms the rings are of such a diameter so as to fit upon the ridges 16. This is very clearly shown in Fig. 3 where the rings are shown interengaging each other. It should be recognized that the ridges 16 serve to rotatively connect the rings with each other and to prevent the insertion of a knife or tool between the rings, and also to hold the r ngs in a stacked position, the latter case being particularly true when the rings are removed from the shank. The cover 13 is recessed on its bottom side so as to receive the ridge 16 of the top ring 12.

The detachable cover 13 is in the form of a disc which has a central downwardly projecting stem 17 thread edly engaging into the top of the shank 10. lVhen the lock is in the closed position, the bolt 14 prevents rotation of the cover and holds the lock closed as a slidably mounted in a longitudinal complete unit. The bolt 14. is of inverted U shape. Each of the arms of the bolt is formed with a shoulder 18 for resting against the top of the cover 13. The arms of the bolt beneath the shoulder are of different diameters, as may be clearly seen in Fig. 3, so that the bolt can be placed only one way into the lock. The ledges 15 of each of the rings are formed with diametrically opposite cutouts 19 and 20 for receiving the arms of the bolt. These cutouts are of different size so as to correspond with the diameter of each arm, necessitating; the correct positioning of the ring before the bolt can be withdrawn. This arrangement doubles the possible combination 01 the lock. The arms of the bolt are formed with cutouts 21 allowing the passage of the ledges 15 of the various rings. These cutouts are so spacedv that whenthc bolt con'ipletely within the 106k and the rings 12 in place, the ledges of the rings will. engage in the cutouts. A plurality of blind cutouts 22 are formed in the bottom tace ot the ledges 15 of the differentrings so as to mislead persons attempting to open the 'lOClI by the feel system. Each of the rings 2 are graduated on. their outer face with numerals from one to ten. For each one of these numerals, there should beione blind cutout 22 or one of the real cutouts as 19 or 20. A starting' line 23 is formed upon the periphery oi the flange 11 so that the rings may be placed relative to each other and in a certain posi tion relative to the shank 10. The shank 10 is formed with longitudinal cutouts24 and 25 for allowinq the passage of the arms of the bolt 14. The belt is so positioned that half of it lies w hin the cutouts 24 and l the other half extends beneath the lede ce: 15 of theirings 12.

A means is provided for preventingturnin; of the locking rings 12 when the bolt 14 is not in its complete inner position. This means is of advantage in that it is impossible to hurriedly close the lock and close it incompletely by not inserting the bolt its full. distance. and hen turning the rines 12 so as to hold the bolt in the locked position. If not for th s-means. the number of possiblecombinations of the lock would. be re duced it it were closed. in a condition with he bolt partially extended.

The means mentioned in the previous paragraplrcomprises a lot itudinal.member 28 slot 2'? formed in the shank 10. Thelon dinal member extends the complete le 535th ot the shank has its top and bottom ends enlarged so as to m tpc f .e motion la;- erally only. A sp n 4 2f} mounted within the opening 27 and acts against the inner face of the meiliher tor normallv u it outwards. outer I is formed with e of the member plurality of vertically milled lines 30 engageahle in corresponding vertically milled. lines 31 formed upon the inner di meter of the ledge 15. A bell crank is pirotally mounted intermediate oi": its ends at 33 in a cavity within the flange 11 and has one of its arms extended adjacent the longitudinal inembe' 26 and pivotally connected to it by a pintle pin 34. The other end of the bell cranl; extends through a cavity in the flange 11 and termimites in 1 end at the bottom oi the longituoinal ll hen the bolt is completely within the lock, one of its a ms depresses the end 535 oi the bell crank to pivot the bell crank so as to move the member 26 inwards. Then the rii s 12 are T .to be rotated. In the event that the bolt is withdrawn or slightly er;- tcnded, then the spring 29 is ree to urge the member outwards so that the niillings 30 on the member engage the millings 31 on the ledges 1:) and latch the rings aga'nst rotation.

The operation of the lock may be traced bv assuming it in the condition shown in Fig. 3. in this condition the bolt 14-. ma; be withdrawn. since all of the cutouts ll) and 20 of the diile-rent rings 12 are in line with the arms of the bolt 14-. To locl: the lot-l: it merely necessary to rotate all oi the rin s 12 so that the ledges 15 ride into the cutouts 21 in he bolt. Now the bolt cannot be withdr: rn. To open the lock. it is necessary to place the rings back into their initial position and this can be done by knowin the combination and setting the rings as directed by the numera s on their outer faces and by tie indicating line lVhen the rings have been set so that the bolt 14; is free. the latter element may be drawn out. In the event that the operator wishes to change the combination of: the lock. he need only remove the detachable cover 1 3 when the bolt 1lis out and then slip all the rings 12 off as a complete unit in StflPlECtl position. Then the rings should be taken apart and their relative positions changed. For sample, the bottom ring; may be placed on the top. and some intermediate riu: at the bottom. The cutouts 19 and 20 of the ditterent rings are arranged ad iacent dillerent numerals on the peripheries of the rin 51's and it will be recognized that such changes change the combination.

In the modified form of the device illustrated in Fi '7. a means has been shown for holding; the bolt of the lock in its opened condition. The bolt is indicated by reference numeral 37 andv di. A res from the bolt in the preferred form in that its top is bulged out and in that one of its arms, indicated by reference ninneral 38, is longer than the other arm, indicated by numeral 39, and the lon 1' arm is formed near i end with a pc paeral groove 4:0 communicating with a. longitudinal groove =11 Till extending substantially the full length of the arm 38. A peg 42 projects from the is accomplished by forming a pluralit of.

radial slots 43 in the top ridges of eaci of the lock rings, these slots being so spaced as to correspond with one indicating number on the periphery, so that for each indicating number there is a slot. One pin 44 projects from the bottom portion of each of the lock rings and is adapted to engage in any one of the radial slots 43 of an adjacent lower.

lock ring. The cover 13 is also provided with a pin 44 which can extend into any one of the radial grooves 43 of the top lock rin The cover 13 is set at a distance from the bottom flange 11 so that a small space 45 exists between the bottom lock ring and the flange. A spring 46 is disposed between the flange 11 and the bottom lock ring 12 for normally urging all of the lock rings upwards so that the 'top one engages against the cover 13. It is this spring which causes the space 45. The various lock rings are held against rotations in that the various pins 44 engage in the grooves 43. In order to turn the lock rings for setting the combi nation, it is necessary to manually depress downwards on any of the lock rings so as to close the space 45 and open a corresponding space between a pair of adjacent rings, which will disengage one of the pins 44 from its groove 43 and then one of the lock rings is free to be turned. lVhen released, the sprin 46 urges the parts back into their engage positions. While the spring 46 is shown at the bottom, the operation would, not be changed at all if it were located at the top for urging all of the lock rings downwards and the pins 44 and the grooves 43 correspondingly changed to cause interengagement in the lowered positions of the rings. Then it would be necessary to raise the rings for disengaging one of them sothat it may be set.

It is of extreme advantage to hold the various lock rings against tree rotatlons in that after the lock is opened'the rings will maintain the combination without accidentally moving from their positions. This adds have the same conditionrasfar as this feature 1S concerned as we havein 'the form of the device illustratedin F igs. 7 and 8.

VVhile I-have illustrated and described my invention with-some degree of particularity,

I realize that in practice various. alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the-rightand privilege of changing the form ofgthe details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A keyless lock, comprising a shank member with a bottom flange, a plurality of lock rings superimposed on said flange and rotative on said shank, a detachable cover on said shank and over said rings, a bolt extended through said cover and between said shank member and lock rings, and means for holding the lock rings against free rotation to hold them as set comprising a plurality of radial grooves formed in each of the lock rings, pins on each lock ring engaging in radial grooves of adjacent lock rings, a pin on said cover engaging in a radial groove of the lock ring adj acent'said cover, and resilient means for holding the lock rings against each other so that said pins engage in the grooves and allowing manual moving of the rings to disengage one of the pins from its groove to allow rotation to one ring at a time.

2. A keyless lock, comprising a shank memher with a bottom flange, a plurality of lock rings superimposed on said flange and rotative on said shank, a detachable cover on said shank and over said rings, a bolt extended through said cover and between said shank member and lock rings, and means for holding the lock rings against free rotation to hold them as set comprising a plurality of radial grooves formed in each of the lock rings, pins on each lock ring engaging in radial grooves of adjacent lock rings, a pin on said cover engaging in a radial groove of the lock ring adjacent said cover, and resilient means for holding the lock rings against each other so that said pins engage in the grooves and allowing manual moving of the rings to disengage one of the pins from its groove to allow rotation to one ring at a time, comprising a spring coaxial on said shank member and acting between said bottom flange and the lowermost of said lock rings for urging all of the lock rings in one direction.

' 3. A keyless lock, comprising a shank mem: ber with a bottom flange, a plurality of lock rings superimposed on said flange and rotative on said shank, a detachable cover on said shank and over said rings, a bolt extended 111g adjacent lock rings from relative turning and disengageable upon separate longitudinal displacement of the rings.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of November, A. D. 1930.

WILLIAM JULIUS PATAKY. 

